6.06.2012

OPPORTUNITIES! cheggitooooout .


For Immediate Release:

UNREASONABLE ENOUGH TO CHANGE THE WORLD

By: Kobi Ansong (Kobi.Ansong@gmail.com)

Atlanta, Georgia – June 2, 2012 – Take a group of brilliant tech entrepreneurs and world-class mentors, throw them on the world’s fastest cruise liner, and circumnavigate the globe. Sound unreasonable?  Good.

In Spring 2013, a grand partnership between Unreasonable Institute, Semester at Sea, and Stanford’s d.School will give birth to Unreasonable at Sea.  The program will take a group of technology entrepreneurs to 14 international locations including Japan, China, India, South Africa, and Spain.

Only ventures that have the potential to solve the world’s greatest social and environmental challenges will be selected. Unreasonable at Sea will open doors for participants to expand their ventures internationally. In each port, they will explore economies and form key relationships with top government officials, venture capitalists, and serial entrepreneurs. 

Daniel Epstein, 26, is the founder of Unreasonable Institute and Unreasonable at Sea.  His experiences abroad with Semester at Sea as a college student changed his perspective forever and led to the creation of the Unreasonable Institute.  Now, his program has come full circle and returned to the place it began.

From the rickshaw taxi drivers of India to the street vendors of Ghana, entrepreneurship sustains people across the globe. Epstein began to see the world through the lens of an entrepreneur while on Semester at Sea.

“When you get off at the ports and you walk through the streets, you realize that everybody is an entrepreneur,” said Epstein.

Unreasonable at Sea holds an unwavering conviction that entrepreneurship will solve the world’s grand challenges. 

“When entrepreneurs look at problems or challenges, they see solutions and opportunities,” said Epstein. “I think that’s the type of thinking that we really need.”

George Bernard Shaw once said, “The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”
Unreasonable entrepreneurs may apply at http://www.unreasonableatsea.com.
###

6.05.2012

Dear Future Spelmanite,



Do not run for the hills. This atmosphere takes adjustment. I moved from the sunshine and comfort of California to the humidity and culture shock of Atlanta. The first month or so, I wanted to go home. Everyone calling me their "sister" seemed so disingenuous. Believe me, you will gain SISTERS here as long as you remain genuine. It may seem like a new world. Nevertheless, the most growth occurs when you are out of your comfort zone. Do not stay crammed in your room (unless you are studying). Go out. Meet people. Try new things. See the city.

Get Internships.
Apply for Scholarships.
Call your parents to confirm that you’re alive.
Call grandparents …they send money.
Pray.
Study Abroad.
Never accept “No”. The school has the money- find it. If they do not want to, make them. You deserve Spelman and make them know it.

Do not chase "hype". A lot of times, people come into the AUC looking for the popularity that they did not acquire in high school. This is college. If you thought high school was ruthless, you were only in the minor leagues. People have sharper tongues in college. People have more creative ways to hate on you in college. Hype is short-lived and disloyal. Instead, find friends who could care LESS about campus drama and "fame"(if you will). Find sisters who are too busy trying to save the world. Societal superheroes are cooler than “college prom queens”.

Go to a Beer Bash.
Go to a pageant.
Go to a park.
Go to Merkerson's. 
Go to Founder’s Day.
PRAY.
Go to a Chapel Service.
Go to Sporting Events.

You are the perfect coal. (lol) I know it does not sound that glamorous to be considered a coal, but don’t underestimate the power of coal. We all aspire to be diamonds, but that occurs after immense time and pressure. Before you reach such a high stature, you need to use your circumstances to light a fire in your community. Ignite passion amongst your fellow sisters. Whether it be through activism, politics, spirituality, dance, science, or mentorship – nothing is wrong with doing the niddy-griddy work of a coal. Before you know it, you will be a Diamond Girl (50+ year alumnae of Spelman College).


Mentor someone. Yes, you are of age.
Protect your name; people would love to throw it in the mud .
Engage yourself in dialogue.
You are beautiful.
Cause awkward, controversial silences in class.
Pray.

In college, your greatest asset will not be your AP classes, your interpersonal skills, your popular boyfriend, your big chest, your greek affiliation or even your parent’s influence. In college, your triple threat will be God, God, and God. Morehouse men and Spelman women tend to get their minds steadfast on being “renaissance men and women”. While that is admirable, some students treat “religion” as one thing on their resume to appear “well-rounded”. Your relationship with God is more than that. It will keep you grounded to your beginning and it will be the catalyst toward your future. Create and nourish a GENUINE bond and dependency on God. 

Class of ... 2016? (i felt so old saying that), Welcome to Spelman. Congratulations. 

All of My Love,
Stevi Renee

6.04.2012

so now we have an infestation of zombies? that's cool.


check her ouuuut..

[I post a lot of Jasmine Mans' poetry & spoken word on my blog. Finally, she's coming out with a book of poetry. Everyone should check it out. I'd imagine it would be amazing!]



3 Documentaries You Need to See

"Bastards of the Party"
This Documentary was produced by Alex Demyanenko and former Blood gang member, Cle Sloan. Focused on the gangs of Los Angeles, California, it traces the history, stigmas, and myths regarding gang life. When i came to college, i realized that people outside of my hometown had so many misinterpretations of gangs. Even more so, People could not fathom how REAL it is to fear for your brothers, sons, cousins, and safety of loved ones. It's so informative and so interesting.


"Four Little Girls" 
This Documentary by Spike Lee is phenomenal. Brutal, raw, and touching, it serves to bring light to the racial and social injustice in Alabama during the 1960s. Based around the Birmingham church burnings in 1963, this film is SO necessary. Our generation has a tendency to remove ourselves from anything that did not happen ...last year. This movie humanizes the event and causes the audience to be accountable for their own sense of humanity. 


"An Inconvenient Truth"
Al Gore's 2006 documentary about societal strain on the environment is informative, groundbreaking and sound. Although there is more information about Gore than i would have cared to see, it is still so interesting to watch. I have never seen so much QUALITY information and so many valid arguments being placed on the screen at a time. It's kind of crazy, actually. This is a film that you have to watch a few times... to keep your conscience afloat. (BTW, most people have seen this documentary. If you have not, get on it!)